Energy Conference Network based in Houston hosted a conference in Aberdeen on June 29th. The topic was the Internet of Things (IoT) in the Oil & Gas industry. I was invited to speak specifically on cultivating a technology-driven culture that allows innovation to thrive. I argue that if Advanced Analytics and Big Machines are the A & B of IoT, Collaboration, Diversity and Experimentation are the C, D & E.

Slides used in my presentation

Based on my research on corporate culture over the last few years, I highlighted the key characteristics of a conducive organisational environment. Some companies I have spoken to over the years include IBM, Dell and SAS.

Here are brief snippets from my presentation covering “Culture that is well-to-do”:

I briefly discuss a 2016 report by McKinsey, published in HBR on digital advances per sector. It shows that the IT and Media industry thrive in digital innovation. The Oil & Gas industry appears to excel that equipping workers with digital tools.

However, the Oil & Gas industry still has some way to go in digitising physical assets for instance. Such assets include equipment and machines. Part of digitising assets involves ensuring that valuable data is collected, easily accessible and exploited for greater insights.